2011-16762. Guarantee Fee Rates for Guaranteed Loans for Fiscal Year 2011; Maximum Portion of Guarantee Authority Available for Fiscal Year 2011; Annual Renewal Fee for Fiscal Year 2011

AGENCY:

Rural Business-Cooperative Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.107(b), Rural Development (the Agency) has the authority to charge an annual renewal fee for loans made under the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program. Pursuant to that authority, the Agency is establishing the renewal fee rate at one-fourth of 1 percent for the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program. This rate will apply to all loans obligated in Fiscal Year 2011 that are made under the B&I program. As established in 7 CFR 4279.107, the amount of the fee on each guaranteed loan will be determined by multiplying the fee rate by the outstanding principal loan balance as of December 31, multiplied by the percent of guarantee.

As set forth in 7 CFR 4279.107(a) and 4279.119(b)(4), each fiscal year the Agency shall establish a limit on the maximum portion of B&I guarantee authority available for that fiscal year that may be used to guarantee loans with a B&I guarantee fee of 1 percent or guaranteed loans with a guarantee percentage exceeding 80 percent.

Allowing the guarantee fee to be reduced to 1 percent or exceeding the 80 percent guarantee on certain B&I guaranteed loans that meet the conditions set forth in 7 CFR 4279.107 and 4279.119, will increase the Agency's ability to focus guarantee assistance on projects which the Agency has found particularly meritorious. For 1 percent fees, the borrower's business supports value-added agriculture and results in farmers benefiting financially, or such projects are high impact as defined in 7 CFR 4279.155(b)(5), and located in rural communities that remain persistently poor, which experience long-term population decline and job deterioration, are experiencing trauma as a result of natural disaster, or are experiencing fundamental structural changes in its economic base. For guaranteed loans exceeding 80 percent, such projects must be a high-priority project in accordance with 7 CFR 4279.155 (and meet the other requirements of 7 CFR 4279.119(b)).

Not more than 12 percent of the Agency's quarterly apportioned B&I guarantee authority will be reserved for loan requests with a guarantee fee of 1 percent, and not more than 15 percent of the Agency's quarterly apportioned guarantee authority will be reserved for guaranteed loan requests with a guarantee percentage exceeding 80 percent. Once the respective quarterly limits are reached, all additional loans for that quarter will be at the standard fee and guarantee limits in 7 CFR part 4279.

DATES:

Effective Date: July 5, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brenda Griffin, USDA, Rural Development, Business Programs, Business and Industry Division, STOP 3224, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-3224, telephone [phone], e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This action has been reviewed and determined not to be a rule or regulation as defined in Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 13258.

Dated: June 17, 2011.

Judith A. Canales,

Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative Service.